View Options in PowerPoint – A Complete Beginner’s Guide!
By: Author Shrot Katewa
There are many different types of presentations view available in PowerPoint including Normal View, Outline View, Presenter View, and Slide Show View to name a few. All these views serve different purposes and it is important to know how to use them appropriately to get the most out of PowerPoint!
In this article, we will talk about what each type of view does in PowerPoint and how to access them so that you can choose the best for your needs! So, let’s get started!
[ A Quick Note Before We Begin – for this article, I will be using one of the presentation templates from Envato Elements . With Envato Elements, you get access to thousands of presentation designs with unlimited downloads so you never run out of options again. Plus, you get free previews so you know exactly what you’re getting before buying! It is also very affordable. Check out their pricing here ]
1. What are the Different Type of View Options Available in PowerPoint?
Microsoft PowerPoint is equipped with a variety of Slide View options that can be used for different purposes.
These are the different view options available in PowerPoint –
- Normal View
- Slide Sorter View
- Notes Page View
- Reading View
- Outline View
- Slide Show View
- Presenter View
- Slide Master View
2. How to Access the Different View Modes in PowerPoint?
To access the different view modes in PowerPoint, you have to click on the ‘View’ tab in the ribbon. The 2-step process is described below.
Step-1: Click on the ‘View’ tab
At first, select the ‘View’ tab, which is the second to last tab in the ribbon section of your PowerPoint Window.
Step-2: Select your preferred ‘View Mode’
Once you have access to the ‘View’ tab, you can select your preferred view mode such as the Outline View , Slide Sorter view, Slide Master view, etc. from the Presentation View section or the Master View section. (as shown in the image in step 1)
3. What is the Purpose of Various View Modes in PowerPoint?
Each view mode in PowerPoint has its own purpose. Let’s go through the purposes of the different slide view options one by one below –
1. Normal View
The ‘Normal View’ option is the first option in the ‘Presentation Views’ section of the ‘View’ tab. It is the most commonly used viewing option and is also the default slide view for PowerPoint.
The slides appear on the left of the PowerPoint window in the ‘Slide Navigation’ bar. Thumbnails of the slide are represented as boxes in the ‘Slide Navigation’ bar with its consecutive serial number to the left of it.
The main function of normal view mode in PowerPoint is to navigate through slides in a vertical grid while allowing you to add, design, or edit the slides while getting a preview of the slides on the left.
2. Slide Sorter View
The ‘Slide Sorter’ option gives you an overview of all the slides in your PowerPoint presentation.
The slides are represented as thumbnails as a grid of boxes arranged side by side. The serial number of the slide is given on the bottom left corner of the slide thumbnail.
This option serves the purpose of viewing the slides together in one window making it easier to rearrange and organize them in a quick fashion.
3. Notes Page View
The ‘Notes Page View’ option gives you the view of each slide and its speaker notes in one page.
In this view, the slides appear at the top and the speaker notes are given on the bottom of the two sections. The serial number of the slide is not shown in this view. You can also edit speaker notes from here.
The main purpose of the notes page view in PowerPoint is to preview what each page will look like before you print the slides with speaker notes.
4. Reading View:
The Reading View option allows you to view your PowerPoint presentation without going into Full Screen mode. All the transitions and animations can be seen in this view. The serial number of the slide is given at the bottom right corner of the window.
It is used to preview the slide and review the slides with full focus. This mode also makes other view options easily accessible, which is not the case in ‘Slide Show’ mode where the presentation is shown in the full screen, and the options are not visible on screen.
The reading mode is actually more useful for word documents, as it allows the reader to focus just on the text. In my opinion, it adds little value to a PowerPoint presentation.
5. Outline View:
The ‘Outline View’ shows you the entire outline of your PowerPoint presentation in the ‘Slide Navigation’ bar.
In this view, there is no thumbnail of the presentation. Instead, there is an outline of all the data present in that slide. The serial number of the slide is at the left followed by a small white box that represents a slide and then the outline of that slide.
You can also create an entire slide in the pane of this view by copy and pasting data from Microsoft Word. However, you will have to design the slide separately once the data has been added to each slide.
6. Slide Show View:
The Slide Show View is the view that your audiences are going to see. This view shows each slide of your PowerPoint presentation in full screen.
All the transitions, animation, and multimedia files in your PowerPoint presentation are played here. Consecutive slides can be accessed using the direction keys on your keyboard or by clicking once on the slide.
7. Presenter View:
This is the view that you as a presenter are going to see while the audience is seeing the ‘Slide Show’ view.
Although you can give a presentation even in the slide show view, but it is always recommend to deliver the presentation using the “Presenter View” mode in PowerPoint as it provides you with additional features and benefits!
This view mode in PowerPoint will split the screen in multiple windows. The window on the left represents the current slide that is being displayed (the one that is visible to your audience).
The window in the top right section indicates the next slide in the queue. Whereas, the notes section displays the notes or key points made by each slide. Both, the notes section as well as the next slides window are only visible to the presenter and not to the audience!
The purpose of the “ Presenter View ” is to give the presenter all the aids to be prepared for the next slide and highlight the key points to be made on the current slide while delivering the presentation.
8. Slide Master View:
This view gives you a view of all the layouts used on the slides of your PowerPoint presentation.
The ‘ Slide Master View ’ option allows you to edit all the aspects of the layouts in your presentation such as fonts, background, color, and pretty much everything you can think of.
You can edit all the slide layouts of the presentation. Furthermore, you can also edit the header and footer of the presentation using the “ Slide Master View ” in PowerPoint.
4. How to Open the Presenter View in PowerPoint?
There are 2 different ways you can enter into Presenter View in PowerPoint –
- Using Slide Show View
- Using the short cut key i.e. Alt+F5
If you are using the Office 365 version of PowerPoint , you can actually directly access the “Presenter View” in the View section. Simply click on “View”. Then, click on “Presenter View”
Let’s look at both the methods quickly –
Method 1 – Using the Slide Show View
Step-1: Click on the ‘Slide Show’ button at the bottom right corner of the screen
At first, you have to click on the ‘Slide Show’ button that looks like a projector screen which is located at the bottom right corner of your PowerPoint window. (as indicated in the image above)
Step-2: Right-click and choose “Show Presenter View”
Once you are in the ‘Slide Show’ mode, using your mouse right-click anywhere on the screen. From the menu that appears, choose the “ Show Presenter View ” option
Method 2 – Using the Keyboard Shortcut
Alternatively, you can press ‘ Alt + F5 ’ on your keyboard and that will immediately open the ‘Presenter View’ mode.
The keyboard shortcut to open the “Presenter View” in PowerPoint on Mac is “Option+Enter” key.
5. How to Change PowerPoint Back to Normal View?
To change your PowerPoint back to ‘Normal View’ from ‘Slide Show’ mode, ‘Presenter View’ option or the ‘Reading View’ option, all you have to do is simply press the ‘ESC’ button on the keyboard of your computer. This will take you back to Normal View.
If you are using any other view apart from these 3 view modes in PowerPoint, you need to do the following –
If you are in a different viewing option, such as ‘Slide Sorter’ option, or the ‘Reading View’ option then you have to select the ‘Normal View’ option from the ‘View’ tab instead of the ‘Slide Sorter’ option or the different slide view option you are currently on.
More PowerPoint Related Topics
- How to Crop a Picture in PowerPoint? [Complete Step-by-Step Tutorial!]
- How to Give a Presentation on Zoom? A Helpful Resource!
- What is a Presentation Clicker? [And How to Use it!]
- How to Convert a PowerPoint to PDF? [A Simple Guide!]
- PowerPoint vs Google Slides: Which is Better? [ULTIMATE Test!]
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Credit to Pressahotkey (via Freepik) for the featured image of this article
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Mastering Presenter View in PowerPoint for Online Presentations
- June 6, 2024
- Last updated: July 3, 2024
Microsoft PowerPoint's Presenter View, also known as Presenter Mode in PowerPoint, is a great tool for maintaining your presentation flow and engaging your audience. This guide will walk you through the steps for how to use presenter view in PowerPoint, tailored for both single and dual monitor setups, and provide tips for presenting on Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet. We’ll also cover common troubleshooting tips to ensure a seamless presentation experience.
Setting Up Presenter View in PowerPoint
Step 1: preparing your presentation:.
- Open your PowerPoint presentation.
- Click on the “Slide Show” tab on the Ribbon.
- Check the “Use Presenter View” box (refer to the image below for guidance).
Step 2: Configuring Display Settings
Additional steps if you are using dual monitors:
- Connect your second monitor.
- In PowerPoint, go to the “Slide Show” tab and click “Set Up Slide Show.”
- Under “Multiple monitors,” select your primary display as “Automatic” or select the monitor you want to use for Presenter View.
- Click “OK.”
Presenting on Zoom with PowerPoint Presenter View
Presenting in zoom via dual monitor setup.
- Start your Zoom meeting and share your screen.
- Select the window with your PowerPoint presentation (the one that shows your Presentation).
- When you have a share screen active in Zoom, a thin green bar will display around the window being presented - it's worth checking to make sure you can see the thin green bar around the screen you are presenting, rather than your Presenter view)
- Start your presentation. Your audience will see your slides, while you see the Presenter View.
Presenting in Zoom via Single Monitor Setup
How to view notes in PowerPoint while presenting with one monitor - in Zoom:
- Open your PowerPoint presentation and start the slide show.
- In Zoom, select “Share Screen” and choose your presentation window.
- When you have a share screen active in Zoom, a thin green bar will display around the window being presented.
- You can use Alt+Tab to switch between Zoom controls and Presenter View.
Presenting on Google Meet with Presenter Mode in PowerPoint
Presenting in google meet with dual monitor setup.
- Start your Google Meet call and click the “Present now” button (refer to the image below)
- Choose the “Window” option and select your PowerPoint presentation from the available windows (refer to the second image below for an example).
- Start your presentation. Your audience sees the slides, while you see the Presenter View.
Presenting in Google Meet with Single Monitor Setup
How to view notes in PowerPoint while presenting with one monitor - in Google Meet:
- Start your presentation in Presenter View.
- Use Alt+Tab to navigate between Google Meet and Presenter View.
Presenting on Microsoft Teams with PowerPoint Presenter View
Dual monitor setup.
- Start your Microsoft Teams meeting.
- Click the “Share” button.
- Choose the window with your PowerPoint presentation (the one that shows Presenter View).
Single Monitor Setup
- Select your entire screen or the window with your PowerPoint presentation.
- Use Alt+Tab to switch between Microsoft Teams and Presenter View.
How to turn off Presenter View in PowerPoint
Once you have completed presenting, you can turn off presenter view
Tips for a Seamless Presentation with PowerPoint Presenter View
- Practice Beforehand: Familiarize yourself with Presenter View’s features, such as the timer, notes, and navigation controls.
- Use Notes Wisely: Presenter View allows you to see your notes without displaying them to the audience. Keep notes concise and relevant.
- Engage with Your Audience: Maintain eye contact with the camera, not the screen. Use the pointer or annotation tools to highlight key points.
- Check Your Setup before the event: Test your audio, video, and internet connection before the presentation. Have a backup plan in case of technical difficulties.
Troubleshooting Common Issues in PowerPoint Presenter View
Here are some troubleshooting suggestions for common issues when presenting using PowerPoint presenter mode:
- Go to the “Display Settings” in Presenter View and swap displays (refer to the screenshot below for guidance on how to find this option), or simply stop your share and then restart the share so that you can select the correct screen
- Ensure your monitor configuration is correctly set in your operating system settings.
- Close unnecessary applications to free up system resources.
- Ensure a stable internet connection.
- Reduce video resolution in your meeting application if necessary.
- Check your microphone and speaker settings in your meeting application.
- Ensure your audio devices are properly connected and selected.
- Double-check the screen/window you are sharing.
- Verify permissions and settings in your meeting application.
- Ensure you are using a version of PowerPoint that supports Presenter View (available in Microsoft 365 and certain standalone versions).
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Home Blog PowerPoint Tutorials How to Work with Presenter View in PowerPoint
How to Work with Presenter View in PowerPoint
Not all presenters have excellent memory recall or the ability to speak flawlessly to the audience without any cues. However, many of them are good at hiding it by using Presenter View in PowerPoint. It is a presentation mode that enables the presenter to hide speaker notes and presentation controls from the audience while leveraging the various handy features offered by PowerPoint.
How to Use Presenter View in PowerPoint
To start using Presenter View, ensure it’s enabled before you begin your slideshow. If you are new to this feature, we recommend using this option to familiarize yourself with the various navigation options for this presentation mode. This might also be helpful if the PowerPoint templates you are accustomed to using might have animations that you might want to preview in this mode to understand when to give the next visual cue.
How to Enable Presenter View in PowerPoint
To enable PowerPoint presenter view, go to the SlideShow tab and make sure the Use Presenter View option is enabled. This will ensure that you can access Presenter View when you switch your slides to SlideShow mode.
Adjust Display Settings
You can swap between the presenter view and slideshow mode or duplicate the slideshow to exit the Presenter View from the Display Settings menu from the top toolbar.
Navigate Slides in Presenter View
Like any standard PowerPoint presentation in SlideShow mode, you can navigate between slides by using the arrow keys or with a presentation remote. Presenter View also provides slide navigation buttons to move the slides back and forth.
View Taskbar in Presenter View
The Show Taskbar option at the top enables viewing the taskbar. This can be helpful if you require using the taskbar, such as to view your battery charge, see the time, enable or disable another app from the taskbar menu, etc.
Reset or Pause the Timer
Once you start your presentation in Presenter View, a timer starts showing how much time you have spent in slideshow mode. This is an excellent way to understand how much time you have consumed for your session and to keep an eye out for good timekeeping. You can also hit Pause or reset the timer anytime.
Change the Size of the Speaker Notes
How to view notes in PowerPoint while presenting? If you have any speaker notes added to your slides, they will appear in Presenter View on your screen. You can increase or reduce the size of the text via the two options at the bottom of the speaker notes pane.
Using Annotation Tools in Presenter View
PowerPoint annotation tools can be accessed from the bottom toolbar in Presenter View. The Pen and Laser Pointer Tools button gives you access to the pen, ink colors, laser pointer, and eraser and also allows you to show or hide the mouse pointer via Arrow Options .
View All Slides in Presenter View
If you need to go back and forth to find a relevant slide for an ongoing discussion or query during your presentation, you can view all slides in Presenter View via the See all slides option.
Zoom Slides using Presenter View
PowerPoint’s Zoom feature lets presenters quickly pick a portion of the slide to zoom into. Presenter View allows you to leverage this feature by instantly selecting a portion of the slide to enlarge it after selecting Zoom into the slide option. To exit the Zoom mode or hit the Esc key.
Black or Unblack SlideShow
Sometimes, you might want to turn the screen blank for a while, such as during a mid-presentation break. The Black or Unblack SlideShow option blanks the slides for your audience while continuing to show you all navigation options via Presenter View.
Toggle Subtitles in Presenter View
One of the most revolutionary features introduced by Microsoft for PowerPoint over the past decade has been Live captions. This feature enables subtitles by converting speech to text as you present. You can toggle Live subtitles on or off while in presenter view to help your audience read what you speak.
Toggle Camera in Presenter View
Like subtitles, you can also toggle the camera on or off in Presenter View.
End Slideshow in Presenter View
There are different ways to end or exit a SlideShow from Presenter View. You can hit the Esc key or click End Slide Show . Similarly, you can click the three dots at the bottom and select End Show .
More Slideshow Options
Other than the various visibility prominent menus available to navigate, annotate, and present your slides, you can also find a few additional options via More slideshow options , which are accessible via the three dots at the bottom toolbar. These include adjusting the position of the subtitles, turning your screen white or black, ending the slideshow, etc.
How to Use Presenter View on a Single Screen
While Presenter View can be enabled to work with dual monitors, you can also use Presenter View on a single monitor with remote meeting apps like Zoom. A simple method for switching to Presenter View on a single monitor is to click the three dots ( More slideshow options ) at the bottom in SlideShow mode and select Show Presenter View .
You can also switch to Presenter View on a single monitor anytime using the ALT+F5 hotkey.
The presenter can easily manage a PPT in presentation mode, with the utility to view speaker notes, annotate or zoom slides, toggle subtitles or camera on or off, and keep your audience engaged via better slideshow management. However, if you’re new to this presentation mode, a bit of practice might help you avoid confusion when presenting before an audience in Presenter View for the first few times. For more information, check our article about PowerPoint presentation shortcuts .
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Understanding Presenter View in PowerPoint: A Deep Dive Guide
Origin and Evolution of Presenter View
Why presenter view is a game-changer for professionals, activating and customizing presenter view in powerpoint, in-depth features of the presenter view, common mistakes and how to avoid them, advanced tips for a power presentation, final tips for enhancing your presentation game, introduction to presenter view.
Have you ever found yourself awkwardly toggling between slides and speaker notes during a presentation? Or wished you could preview the next slide without your audience seeing? Enter Presenter View in PowerPoint, a feature designed to make presenting smoother and more professional.
In essence, Presenter View is a special mode in PowerPoint that allows the presenter to see their speaker notes on one screen, while the audience views the note-free presentation on another screen. This dual-screen setup means you can have your notes, upcoming slides, and timer conveniently on one screen while your audience remains blissfully unaware.
“Presenter View is the unseen ally behind many successful PowerPoint presentations.”
Microsoft’s PowerPoint, with its roots tracing back to the late 1980s, has undergone several metamorphoses. Over the years, as technology improved and presentation dynamics changed, Microsoft introduced new features to make the software more user-friendly and versatile. One such innovation is the Presenter View.
Back in the early days of PowerPoint, presenters had to rely on printouts or separate documents for their speaker notes. The advent of Presenter View in the early 2000s was a game-changer. It allowed presenters to merge their slides and speaker notes into one cohesive presentation experience.
The beauty of Presenter View lies not just in its conception but in its evolution. Over different versions of PowerPoint:
- 2003 : Introduction of a basic Presenter View with slides and notes.
- 2007 : Enhanced screen setup with better dual-monitor support.
- 2010 : Introduction of slide zoom and laser pointer features.
- 2013 & Beyond : Integration with touch features, improved UI, and annotations.
Each version brought refinements, making it more intuitive and packed with features, tailoring to the evolving needs of presenters globally.
Fun Fact : Presenter View wasn’t initially as popular as it is today. It took a few iterations and user feedback loops for Microsoft to perfect the balance between utility and user experience.
The Core Components of Presenter View
Presenter View in PowerPoint is like the cockpit for pilots: it’s where all the essential controls and information are at the presenter’s fingertips. Whether you’re a newbie to PowerPoint or a seasoned professional, understanding these components can transform your presentation experience.
- This provides a glance at your current, previous, and upcoming slides. It ensures you’re always prepared for what’s coming next and can seamlessly transition between points.
- The soul of your presentation, speaker notes, are discreetly placed at the bottom or side, only visible to you. These notes can be elaborate explanations, quick pointers, or even personal reminders. They’re like your secret cheat sheet!
- Ever worried about running over time? This feature shows the elapsed time since you began the presentation and, in some versions, allows you to set a countdown. Stay on track and manage your pace efficiently.
- Interactive features that allow you to draw on slides or use a virtual laser pointer. These are especially helpful when you want to emphasize or explain specific points visually.
- Navigate between slides effortlessly and zoom into specific parts of a slide to draw attention or elaborate on details.
Table: Core Components Overview
Component | Purpose |
---|---|
Slides Preview | Glance at current and upcoming slides |
Speaker Notes | Personal reminders and additional information |
Slide Timer | Manage presentation pace |
Annotations | Emphasize points with drawings |
Laser Pointer | Highlight specific parts of slides |
Zoom & Navigation | Seamless transition and detailed elaboration on slides |
Quote : “Presenter View is to a presenter what a dashboard is to a driver. It empowers, directs, and enhances the journey of your narrative.” – Jane Harris, Lead PowerPoint Expert – Powerbacks team
Understanding these components is one thing, but leveraging them effectively during a presentation can make a significant difference. Let’s delve into the ‘why’ behind the significance of Presenter View.
Stepping onto the stage or presenting in a boardroom can often be an overwhelming experience. The constant juggle between capturing the audience’s attention and keeping track of your slides can lead to nervousness. But what if there was a way to have everything you need right in front of you, ensuring smooth sailing through your presentation? Enter Presenter View.
- Having a preview of the upcoming slides and personal notes right in front of you can be a massive boost to confidence. You’re always one step ahead, knowing exactly what’s coming next.
- Instead of turning back to view the screen repeatedly, Presenter View lets you face your audience directly. This creates a more engaging and personal interaction.
- Gone are the days when you’d hold a bunch of cue cards or sheets of paper. With digital speaker notes, you have a cleaner, more organized setup.
- Using the annotation tools and laser pointer, you can make your presentation more interactive, leading to better retention and engagement from your audience.
- There’s no denying that seamlessly transitioning between slides, using interactive tools, and having no physical notes gives a more polished and professional look.
Table: Benefits of Using Presenter View
Benefit | Description |
---|---|
Increased Confidence | Stay one step ahead with slide previews. |
Audience Engagement | Maintain eye contact and interact directly. |
No Physical Notes | Digitalize your cues and reminders. |
Interactivity | Annotations and pointers for emphasis. |
Professionalism | Seamless transitions and polished appearance. |
Quote : “Embracing the Presenter View is not just about leveraging a tool; it’s about amplifying your message and connecting more profoundly with your audience.”
It’s evident that the Presenter View has undeniable advantages for professionals. But how do you activate it and customize it to suit your needs? Let’s walk through the steps.
Starting with PowerPoint 2013, Microsoft enhanced the Presenter View to ensure that it’s both intuitive and user-friendly. Activating it and making it work for you is simple, as outlined in the following steps:
Step-by-Step Guide to Activate Presenter View :
- Start by opening your PowerPoint presentation. This will be the one you intend to deliver.
- At the top, you’ll notice several tabs. Click on the one labeled ‘Slide Show’.
- Within the Slide Show tab, you’ll spot a checkbox labeled ‘Use Presenter View’. Ensure that it’s ticked. If it’s not, simply click on it.
- If you’re using an external projector or display, make sure it’s connected. PowerPoint will automatically detect it and use the Presenter View on your primary display, showing the main presentation on the external one.
- Start your presentation by either pressing F5 on your keyboard or clicking on ‘From Beginning’ in the Slide Show tab.
- Next Slide Preview : Gives a preview of what’s coming next.
- Speaker Notes : Displays your notes for the current slide.
- Slide Navigation : Use this to jump to a specific slide.
- Annotation Tools : Highlight or draw on your slides in real-time.
- Timer : Keeps track of how long you’ve been presenting.
- You can move around the different elements, increase font size of your notes for better readability, or even hide specific components if they’re not required.
Table: Quick Access Tools in Presenter View
Tool | Purpose |
---|---|
Next Slide Preview | Offers a glimpse of the upcoming slide. |
Speaker Notes | View your notes and cues for the current slide. |
Slide Navigation | Jump to any slide in the presentation. |
Annotation Tools | Emphasize points using highlighting or drawing. |
Timer | Monitor your presentation’s duration. |
Quote : “The beauty of PowerPoint’s Presenter View is the control and flexibility it offers. It’s like having a personal assistant during your presentations.” – Linda Green, Presentation Expert
Now that we know how to activate and customize the Presenter View let’s delve deeper into its features and tools for maximum efficiency during presentations. Shall we proceed?
PowerPoint’s Presenter View is not just a simple “next slide” preview; it’s a hub of tools and functionalities designed to make the presenter’s job easier and the presentation more engaging.
H3: Slide Preview This is arguably the most straightforward feature but also the most helpful. At a glance, you can see what’s coming up, ensuring that you’re always prepared for the next topic or section.
- Smooth Transitions : Eliminates awkward pauses between slides.
- Improved Pacing : Know when to speed up or slow down based on upcoming content.
- Reduced Anxiety : No unpleasant surprises during your presentation.
H3: Speaker Notes For those who don’t rely on pure memory, speaker notes are a lifesaver. They’re your secret weapon, visible only to you, that provides additional context or reminders about what to say.
- Bold the crucial points to ensure they stand out.
- Use concise bullet points for easier and quicker reading.
- Add time cues if you’re aiming to cover specific points within certain timeframes.
H3: Slide Navigation While it’s always best to move sequentially through your slides, there might be instances when you need to skip ahead or return to a previous point. With the slide navigation tool, you can effortlessly hop around your presentation.
- Case Study : During a corporate presentation, John, a sales manager, was posed with a sudden question about Q2 performance. Thanks to slide navigation, he quickly reverted to the relevant slide, addressed the query, and resumed without any hiccups.
H3: Annotation Tools Engage your audience by turning your presentation into an interactive canvas. Whether you’re highlighting an essential statistic or drawing a quick graph, these tools can make a significant impact.
- Use contrasting colors to ensure visibility.
- Don’t overdo it; the aim is to emphasize, not to overwhelm.
- Practice beforehand to ensure you’re comfortable with these tools during the presentation.
H3: Timer It’s easy to lose track of time during a presentation. With Presenter View’s timer, you can keep tabs on the elapsed time, helping you manage the pace and duration of your talk.
- Tip : Always allocate a buffer period. If you’re presenting for 30 minutes, aim to finish in 25. This allows for Q&A or any unexpected delays.
Quote : “PowerPoint’s Presenter View is like a dashboard for presenters. It provides every tool one might need, all within arm’s reach, ensuring a seamless and interactive presentation experience.” – Michael Roberts, Tech Analyst
Understanding the features of the Presenter View is the key to unlocking its potential. With practice and familiarity, it becomes an extension of the presenter, leading to more confident and impactful presentations.
Making the Most of Presenter View
If you’ve ever wanted to feel like a presentation Jedi, mastering the Presenter View is your path to the force. But having the tool isn’t enough – it’s about leveraging its features optimally. Here’s a detailed guide on maximizing the benefits of the Presenter View:
H3: Setup and Access Before harnessing its power, you need to ensure you can access Presenter View without hitches.
- Connect your computer to the projector or external display.
- Launch PowerPoint and open your presentation.
- Go to the Slide Show tab and select Set Up Slide Show .
- In the pop-up, ensure Browsed by an individual (window) is selected.
- Start the slide show. Presenter View should appear on your computer, while the audience sees only the slides.
H3: Customize the Display Remember, it’s your dashboard; make it as comfortable and efficient for you as possible.
- Within Presenter View, hover over the bottom to reveal the toolbar.
- Click on the gear icon to adjust settings.
- Reorder tools based on your preference or hide those you don’t need.
H3: Practice, Practice, Practice The tool’s efficiency relies heavily on your familiarity with it. Do dry runs to ensure you know where everything is and how each feature works.
- Pro Tip : Mimic the presentation environment during practice. If you’re presenting in a large hall, practice with the same setup.
H3: Seamlessly Integrate Other Media If your presentation includes videos, animations, or other media, ensure they play seamlessly in Presenter View.
- Deep Dive : Always embed media within the presentation. Relying on external links or files can disrupt the Presenter View experience.
H3: Engage the Audience Use the tools not just to aid your presentation but to engage your audience. Pose questions, use the pen tool to sketch quick diagrams based on audience inputs, and make it interactive.
- Table of Engagement Techniques :
Tool | Engagement Technique |
---|---|
Pen tool | Sketch live diagrams or highlight sections upon request. |
Timer | Run quick quizzes or brainstorming sessions. |
Slide navigator | Jump to topics the audience shows more interest in. |
H3: Master the Art of Transitions Smooth transitions are key to maintaining audience attention. With a preview of the next slide, prepare your narrative to flow seamlessly.
Even with the most powerful tools, human error can play a spoilsport. The Presenter View, as intuitive as it may be, has its quirks. Here’s a list of common pitfalls users face and ways to steer clear of them:
H3: Not Checking Hardware Setup Before you even start the presentation, ensure your hardware is correctly set up. This includes checking the display connection, ensuring the projector or external monitor is detected, and setting up the correct display settings.
- Pro Tip : Always keep a spare HDMI or VGA cable. Technical glitches often come from the most unexpected sources.
H3: Overlooking Speaker Notes Having made the effort of adding speaker notes to your slides, it would be a shame not to use them. They serve as a discreet prompt, ensuring you don’t miss any critical points.
- Fact : According to a study, presenters who actively used speaker notes were 25% more consistent in delivering their core messages.
H3: Ignoring the Timer Time management is crucial. If you have a fixed time slot, exceeding it can inconvenience others and may appear unprofessional. Conversely, finishing too early can leave your audience unsatisfied.
- Actionable Advice : Always have a buffer. If your slot is 30 minutes, aim for a 25-minute presentation, leaving room for Q&A or unexpected delays.
H3: Relying Exclusively on Presenter View Despite its usefulness, never be wholly dependent on Presenter View. Technical glitches happen, and the ability to continue smoothly without it showcases professionalism.
- Case Study : At a major tech conference in 2018, a renowned speaker’s Presenter View malfunctioned. Instead of panicking, he smoothly transitioned to the standard view, using his printed notes as a backup. The audience lauded his adaptability, and his message wasn’t overshadowed by the hiccup.
H3: Not Adapting to Audience Feedback The tools in Presenter View, like slide navigation, are meant to enhance adaptability. If you sense your audience resonating more with a particular topic, don’t be afraid to dwell on it a bit longer or even revisit slides.
By sidestepping these common mistakes, you not only harness the full potential of Presenter View but also project confidence and control. Next, we’ll explore some advanced features to elevate your presentation game even further.
Mastering Presenter View basics can tremendously improve your presentation skills. But if you’re looking to elevate your game and leave a lasting impression, dive into these advanced features:
H3: Seamless Transition Between Slides The art of a great presentation lies not just in the content but also in the delivery. A choppy slide transition can disrupt the flow. PowerPoint offers a plethora of transition effects — from subtle fades to dynamic 3D effects.
- Go to the Transitions tab.
- Browse and select your preferred effect.
- Adjust the transition duration if needed.
- Click Apply To All to maintain uniformity.
H3: Use Zoom to Focus on Details Occasionally, you might want to draw attention to specific details on a slide. Instead of making your audience squint, use the in-built Zoom feature.
- Tip : Combine zoom with a laser pointer or pen tool for emphasis.
H3: Ink Annotations Annotating directly on your slides can be beneficial for interactive sessions or workshops. PowerPoint’s “Ink” feature allows you to do just that.
Tool | Use-case |
---|---|
Draw or write directly on the slide. | |
Emphasize specific parts of your content. | |
Remove any annotations made during the session. |
- Did You Know? : Ink annotations made during a presentation can be saved for future reference!
H3: Embed Multimedia for a Rich Experience Modern presentations often go beyond static slides. Consider embedding videos, audio clips, or even live web content to keep your audience engaged.
- Navigate to the Insert tab.
- Choose Video or Audio and select your file.
- Adjust playback settings under the Playback tab.
H3: Custom Slide Show Sometimes, different segments of your audience require varied content. Instead of having multiple PPT files, create a custom slideshow within the same presentation.
PowerPoint’s Presenter View is akin to a secret weapon, waiting in the wings, ready to empower speakers, educators, and presenters globally. Whether you’re a novice taking your first steps into the world of presentations or a seasoned speaker aiming to refine your skills, the Presenter View, along with the myriad features PowerPoint offers, ensures your content shines in the best light.
Remember, a successful presentation doesn’t merely rely on flashy slides or multimedia elements. It’s the seamless blend of content, delivery, and engagement. And with tools like Presenter View, you’re equipped to handle the technical aspects, allowing you to focus on what truly matters – connecting with your audience.
As Bill Gates once said:
“If you think the PowerPoint presentation is there for you as the presenter, you’re wrong. It’s there for the audience.”
So, the next time you’re gearing up for that crucial pitch, workshop, or lecture, take a moment to familiarize yourself with Presenter View. Your audience — and your confidence — will thank you for it.
Happy presenting!
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May 9, 2022
Edit your notes in Presenter view in PowerPoint
Victoria Tran
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Hey, Officer Insiders! My name is Victoria Tran, and I’m a Program Manager on the PowerPoint team. I’m thrilled to share that you can now edit notes in Presenter view in PowerPoint for Windows. No more switching to Editor view to type or change your notes, even during a presentation!
Edit notes in Presenter view
Accessing and editing your slide content whenever the need arises is a key part of the PowerPoint workflow. Whether you’re making an important edit to your speaker notes during a presentation rehearsal or jotting down feedback during your presentation, the ability to edit notes in Presenter view increases your productivity and eliminates the need to toggle between views.
We are excited to add this highly requested feature and expand the use of PowerPoint notes. In the future, we’ll continue to add support for editing notes in other views, such as Teleprompter view.
How it works
Ready to edit notes in Presenter view?
NOTE: You can also press the F6 key to select the Notes pane in Presenter view. When a white outline appears around the pane, press Enter and start typing to make any updates you want.
Known issues
Presenter view currently only allows basic formatting of notes, such as bold, italics, and underlining (via keyboard shortcuts). Formatting such as text color, highlighting, and other options aren’t yet available.
Tips and tricks
- If you are using keyboard commands to navigate through your slides during a presentation, make sure the text insertion point is not showing in the Notes pane. If it is, the arrow keys will move the insertion point around in the pane instead of navigating the slides.
- If you have two monitors, a full-screen slide will show on one monitor and Presenter view on the other monitor, featuring a view of the next slide, your speaker notes, a timer, and more. If you have just one monitor, you can press Alt + F5 to try out Presenter view.
Availability
We will be rolling the edit notes in Presenter view feature out to Office Insiders running Beta Channel Version 2204 (Build 15225.20000) or later.
Don’t have it yet? It’s probably us, not you.
Features are released over some time to ensure things are working smoothly. We highlight features that you may not have because they’re slowly releasing to larger numbers of Insiders. Sometimes we remove elements to further improve them based on your feedback. Though this is rare, we also reserve the option to pull a feature entirely out of the product, even if you, as an Insider, have had the opportunity to try it.
We want to hear from you! Please click Help > Feedback to submit your feedback about this feature.
Learn what other information you should include in your feedback to ensure it’s actionable and reaches the right people. We’re excited to hear from you!
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Presenter View in PowerPoint
How to Use Presenter View in PowerPoint
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- You can use thumbnails to select slides out of sequence and create a customized presentation for your audience.
- Preview text shows you what your next click will add to the screen, such as a new slide or the next bullet in a list.
- Speaker’s notes are shown in large, clear type so that you can use them as a script for your presentation.
- You can temporarily black out the screen during a presentation and then resume where you left off. This can come in handy during breaks or question and answer periods.
Start Presenter View
- Click the Options button.
The Presenter view fills the screen. The same presentation tools are available below the slide, and it also shows the current time and a thumbnail of the upcoming slide. At the bottom of the screen, use the arrows to move forward or backward in the presentation.
Command Buttons
At the top of the Presenter view, there are command buttons.
- Show Taskbar : Show or hide the Windows taskbar.
- Display Settings : When projecting, swap which display shows the presenter view or duplicate the slide show on both screens.
- End the Slide Show : Return to Normal view.
The timer is located at the top-left corner of the current slide. It keeps track of how long Presenter view has been running.
- Click the Pause button to temporarily stop the timer.
The Notes pane gives you a large look at any notes added to the slide. In Presenter view, you have the flexibility to change the display size.
End Presenter View
You can close Presenter view without ending the presentation entirely.
- Click the Options menu.
You return to the regular slide show view.
To close Presenter View and end the presentation, just press Esc .
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Present Better with PowerPoint Presenter View: Tips & Tricks
The PowerPoint presenter view is the ideal tool for your presentation. The PowerPoint presenter view is the ideal tool for your presentation. It allows you to display your speaker notes and slides on your computer while presenting. Meanwhile, your audience will see the presentation without your notes on another screen or projector.
What is PowerPoint presenter view?
The PowerPoint presenter view is a presentation mode that allows presenters to see a preview of the next slides as well as their speaker notes. The advantage of this mode is that your audience will only see the current slide and nothing else.
PowerPoint presenter view: advantages
Presenter view offers a number of features that can help you streamline and improve the flow of your presentations:
1. You can add notes to each slide. This gives you more freedom and you won’t have to struggle with clumsy index cards. You can individually design the notes for each slide and, when you switch slides, you’ll see that slide’s notes as well.
2. You always see the current slide number (e.g., slide 5 of 13). That way, you can begin preparing for the next slide. You receive an overview of the entire presentation throughout.
3. A preview image on the side of your presentation always shows you the next slide.
4. A timer notifies you of how much time has elapsed. This is especially helpful if you have a limited amount of time to present.
5. You can use the pen tools to mark, highlight and augment your slide content . These freehand markups can even be saved afterwards.
6. You can view a thumbnail overview of all your presentation slides. This lets you choose slides freely and jump from slide to slide.
7. You can use the magnifying glass to enlarge individual sections of the current slide. The virtual laser pointer allows you to highlight specific points .
8. During breaks and discussions, you can fade to a black screen and don’t have to turn off the projector. This allows you to restart the presentation in less time.
How to set up PowerPoint presenter view with a projector
PowerPoint presenter view requires two separate monitors. This often includes a projector. Here’s how to properly set up a projector:
1. Connect your laptop to the projector. Make sure the laptop isn’t switched on.
2. When you turn on the laptop, the projector will recognize it as a second screen.
3. When you start Microsoft PowerPoint, you should see the same image on both screens.
4. Now press the Windows + P key combination and then select Extend . Click on the check mark to the right of Presenter View in the Slide Show tab.
5. You’ll now see the different views on your two monitors. As the presenter, you’ll see the presenter view while your audience will see the current slide.
6. Normally, presenter view is automatically displayed on the correct monitor (namely, yours). If it still appears on the audience screen, set it to Primary Monitor in the Monitor drop-down menu. Presenter view should now run on your monitor.
How to disable PowerPoint presenter view
To disable presenter view during your presentation, simply uncheck the Presenter View box in the Slide Show tab.
Tips for optimal use of the PowerPoint speaker view
1. practicing the presentation in advance.
If you want to use this tool effectively, you should be confident in using it . Therefore, test it extensively beforehand to be able to confidently operate the tool when it matters. In addition, also go through your presentation whilst projecting the speaker view. This way you can guarantee a more fluent presentation and fill in missing or insufficient notes.
2. Designing effective presentation notes
To ensure your notes are effective, keep them concise and to the point so you can access them quickly and easily during the presentation. Avoid long paragraphs and instead focus on bullet points that summarize the main ideas and important details .
By highlighting key terms or using abbreviations , you can make your notes easier to read. Your notes should also be large enough. To adjust the size of notes and previews, simply drag the edges of the relevant elements until they reach the desired size.
Be sure to structure your notes well to support the flow of your presentation and ensure a smooth transition between slides.
3. Managing time and breaks during the presentation
The integrated timeline allows you to always keep track of time during the presentation. To make the best use of your time, it is important to plan your presentation carefully and include breaks, if necessary, to give your audience time to process the information.
Be sure to use pauses deliberately, for example, to answer questions or emphasize important points. Also use the time display to keep track of your presentation speed so you don’t speak too fast or too slow to keep your audience’s attention.
This way, you guarantee a well-structured and engaging presentation that is both informative and enjoyable for your audience.
4. Integration of interactive elements
It’s no secret that interactivity in presentations helps keep the audience’s attention . Speaker View in PowerPoint offers the possibility to insert media and interactive elements into your presentation to make it more visually appealing and interesting.
For example, you can integrate videos, audio clips, animations, and interactive polls . Use the Speaker View to control the flow of media playback and make sure everything works smoothly.
For more ideas on how to make your presentations interactive, see the article “ Interactive presentations “.
5. Updating slides
PowerPoint presenter view allows you to update slides during your presentation. Dies This is really useful if you’ re in a team working on your presentation and changes are still being made, possibly right up to the last minute. To activate this setting, go to Set Up Slide Show from the Slide Show tab and select Keep slides updated .
Pro tip: Use shortcuts during your presentation
Shortcuts are keyboard combinations that allow you to quickly access certain PowerPoint functions. Here are five useful shortcuts which can simplify your presentations, especially in presenter view:
- Fade to the next slide by pressing the Enter key or the right or down arrow keys .
- To go back to the previous slide, press either the up or left arrow key .
- To jump to the last slide of your presentation, press the End key .
- If you want to skip slides during your presentation, press the slide number on your keyboard + Enter .
- To make your screen appear white or black, select either W or the comma key for a white screen and B or the period key for a black screen . These functions can be especially helpful when you want to make sure that the audience’s entire attention is on you and not the screen.
For more useful shortcuts to make working with PowerPoint easier, feel free to check out our blog .
Use PowerPoint presenter view for better presentations
Presenter view makes it much easier for you to present and navigate your presentation. Thanks to many useful features, you can make your presentation more fluid and hold your audience’s attention.
Feel free to contact us at [email protected] with any questions about presenter view and PowerPoint in general. We’ll help you out.
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Presenter View in PowerPoint 365 for Windows
Learn about Presenter view in PowerPoint 365 for Windows. This is the view that allows you to use two displays effectively to deliver your slides in PowerPoint.
Author: Geetesh Bajaj
Product/Version: PowerPoint 365 for Windows
OS: Microsoft Windows 10 and higher
Date Created: February 12, 2020 Last Updated: September 14, 2023
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Presenter View in PowerPoint 365 for Windows is a purpose-built view that accompanies Slide Show view . This view is beneficial in an environment that has at least two displays such as a laptop and a projector, or even two monitors attached to your desktop system. The projector or the secondary display then shows the actual slides, in what is commonly called Slide Show view. However, you see Presenter view on the laptop or on the primary display.
Figure 1 below shows Presenter view. Notice that you get to see much more than just the slide. Rest assured that the audience viewing the projector or secondary output only sees the slide!
While Presenter view in older versions of PowerPoint had to be manually turned on, newer versions of PowerPoint automatically detect if you have two displays, and turn on Presenter view. You should however still check and ensure that this view shows up on your primary display and not on the secondary display. We show you how you can swap displays using the Display Settings option, later in this tutorial.
If you are using only a single display, you can still choose to change to Presenter view from within Slide Show view. Hover your cursor over the bottom left area of the slide to find seven watermarked navigation icons that you can see in Figure 2 . Click the last icon and from the resultant menu, choose the Show Presenter View option (see Figure 2 again).
This brings up PowerPoint 365's Presenter View, as previously shown in Figure 1 . Notice that PowerPoint 365's Presenter View has an enhanced Web 2.0 style interface and there are many other features in the Presenter view's console such as zooming onto a specific part of the slide, and then panning across the slide area. Also you have dedicated Pause , Resume and Restart buttons to give you more control over slide timings. Additionally, you have easy access to the Laser Pointer tool, which directs the audience’s eye with a bright-colored point of light.
We explain all these features, and more next, as marked below in Figure 3 .
Here you find three options:
- Show Taskbar: A toggle that alternates between showing your Window taskbar. Click once to make the taskbar available. You'll then find that the option is now highlighted as shown in Figure 4 , below.
- It can be useful to have access to the taskbar if you need to access any open application. Then once you get back to your slide show, you can click the Show Taskbar option again to hide the taskbar. The option is then no longer highlighted.
- Display Settings: This option, when clicked spawns a drop-down menu, as shown in Figure 5 . Here you'll get options to Swap Presenter View and Slide Show , and also another option to Duplicate Slide Show .
- If you are on a single display environment, these options will be grayed out. On a dual-display environment, you can use the Swap Presenter View and Slide Show option to swap displays between your primary and secondary displays. The Duplicate Slide Show option will show Slide Show view on both displays.
- End Slide Show: Exits the presentation. You can also duplicate this option using the Esc keyboard shortcut.
Shows above the Slide Preview area, as shown in Figure 6 , below. The Timer determines the time elapsed since the slide show started. Additionally, PowerPoint provides two buttons for Pause/Resume and Restart .
C. Preview area
This shows the active slide (see Figure 6 , above). The same slide is simultaneously displayed full screen on the projected screen (secondary display).
D. Next Slide
On the top right side, you'll find a preview of the next slide.
E. Notes pane
F. extra controls.
There are six extra controls available below the Slide Preview (see Figure 7 ). These are explained from left to right:
- Pen and Laser Pointer tools: Click on this button to bring up a menu, as shown in Figure 8 , below.
- The options within this menu are explained below:
- Laser Pointer: Directs the audience's eye with a bright-colored point of light. You can set the Laser Pointer color within the Set Up Show dialog box. To access this dialog box, choose the Slide Show tab of the Ribbon, and then click the Set Up Slide Show button.
- Pen : Lets you draw or annotate with a pen. Learn more in our Using the Pen and Highlighter Tools in Slide Show View in PowerPoint tutorial.
- Highlighter: Almost like a virtual highlighter pen. Learn more in our Using the Pen and Highlighter Tools in Slide Show View in PowerPoint tutorial.
- Ink Color: Changes the pen color.
- Eraser: Lets you erase any pen or highlighter marked areas (grayed out if there are no marked areas on the current slide).
- Erase All Ink on Slide: Removes all ink markings (grayed out if there are no marked areas on the current slide).
- Arrow Options: Brings up a sub-menu with options to show ( Visible ) or hide ( Hidden ) the cursor while presenting. The Automatic option is turned on by default, this shows the cursor when you move your mouse or trackpad for a while, and hides it again when there's no moving activity for a while.
- See All Slides: Click on this button to bring up the whole slide stack (see Figure 9 ), and choose any slide. With this option, you can easily switch slides in or out of sequence from a grid that only you see. Your audience only sees the slide you’ve selected.
- Zoom into the slide: With this tool, you can zoom a part of the slide and then pan around. Figure 10 shows the zoom option as active.
- Black or Unblack Slide Show: This is the toggle button to turn the screen completely black, click again to un-black the screen. You can get the same results by pressing the B shortcut key. Similarly you can press the W shortcut key to get a white screen, and press W again to un-white the screen.
- Captions and Subtitles: Shows subtitles automatically generated from what you speak, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 11 . These captions are also shown on the secondary display in Slide Show view. This Captions and Subtitles feature needs a connected microphone to work.
- More Slide Show Options: Click this button to bring up a drop-down list, as shown in Figure 12 .
- Within this list you'll find more options:
- Last Viewed: Goes to the last viewed slide.
- Custom Show: Opens a sub-menu that lists all custom shows available in the open presentation. This option is grayed out if there are no Custom Shows created within the presentation being viewed.
- Hide Presenter View: Hides Presenter View and takes you back to Slide Show view on a single display environment.
- Screen: Lets you show a Black or White screen to the audience, Show / Hide Ink Markup (pen, highlighter, etc.), and reveal the Windows taskbar (Switch Programs) .
- Help: Brings up a list of keyboard shortcuts that you can use while presenting (see Figure 13 ).
PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts
Do you want more keyboard shortcuts?
Explore our PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts and Sequences Ebook that is updated for all PowerPoint versions.
- Pause: Lets you pause your slide show. Animations pause too, and you click Pause again to restart, or just press the Pause/Break key on your keyboard. Most laptop keyboards may not have this key but bigger desktop keyboards have the Pause/Break key.
- End Show: Exits Slide Show and Presenter view.
G. Navigation
Use the Previous Slide or the Next Slide arrow buttons to navigate to those slides. Also, the area between these buttons shows which slide is active.
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How to Work With Views in Microsoft PowerPoint
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The many views of PowerPoint will help you prepare for your big presentation.
You're probably accustomed to views like Normal view. But in this tutorial, you'll learn more ways of working with your presentation such as Slide Sorter view, shown here:
Master PowerPoint Views
Here are the most popular views in PowerPoint:
- Normal View . The default PowerPoint workspace, which includes thumbnails for each slide and a larger view of a single slide in the center.
- Outline View . Shows your presentation in an outline style, which is great for reviewing content.
- Slide Sorter View . Perfect for reviewing the order of your slides and re-sequencing them.
- Reading View . An in-window preview of how your presentation will appear, including transitions and animations.
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We also have a useful compliment to this tutorial. Quickly grab it before you read on. Download our FREE eBook: The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations . It'll help you write, design, and deliver the perfect presentation.
How to Work With PowerPoint Views (Quick Video Tutorial)
PowerPoint is a great tool for creating presentations. Views allow you to make edits, reorders slides, edit notes, and work efficiently in PowerPoint. Learn how to use PowerPoint Views in this short video:
Working With Microsoft PowerPoint Views
In the rest of this tutorial, I cover more details about the major views in PowerPoint for mastering your presentation files and how to get the most out of them. I also touch on more views you can use in PowerPoint as well.
The Bravo PowerPoint Template has over 50 unique slides. It has picture placeholders that make adding images to the slide easy. Plus, this template comes with icons and device mockups.
How to Change Views in PowerPoint
To change views, find the View button on PowerPoint's ribbon and click on it. Then, find the section on the left labeled Presentation Views. This tutorial will walk you through each of these views and how you can use them.
Now that you know how to switch views, let's find out more about the different PowerPoint views and why you should work through them while building a presentation.
How to Use PowerPoint Normal View
Normal View is typically the default view for working in Microsoft PowerPoint. This is a general purpose, do-it-all view that you're likely accustomed to. You can think of it as the primary editing view in PowerPoint.
On the left side of PowerPoint's Normal View are thumbnails for each of the slides. You can click to switch between slides, and even drag and drop to reorder them right inside of the sidebar.
I use Normal View in PowerPoint as a starting point for my presentations. It's a general view for creating your presentations from. The stage area is used for building and styling your slides, and you can easily move to a different slides from the sidebar.
After I've spent time putting together my content, it might be time to rethink the sequence of the material. That's where Slide Sorter View comes into play.
Normal View is the default view in PowerPoint, but if you're working in another view you can switch back to Normal View in PowerPoint. Click on View in the PowerPoint ribbon. Then Click the Normal icon.
Using PowerPoint Outline View
The Outline View in PowerPoint shows your presentation in a traditional, easy-to-read outline. This view puts your main points in the sidebar.
When you switch to Outline View , the sidebar changes its focus to the content of your slides. The sidebar doesn't show all the text from the slides, just the major points from your presentation. You can even double click in the sidebar on the outline text to update the slide itself.
I like to use Outline View to review the major points that my presentation should make. As I'm working in Outline View , I'm asking myself a few key questions, like:
- Are my main ideas clear?
- Do I focus on them, and not the details?
Outline View is perfect for this purpose, as it leaves only your key points showing in the sidebar.
Slide Sorter View in PowerPoint
You've nailed down the content in Normal View , and now it's time to think about the order that you'll present your slides.
Slide Sorter View is a helpful way to re-order the slides in your PowerPoint presentation. Click on Slide Sorter to enter into this view.
When you switch to Slide Sorter View , all your slides will be represented as thumbnails on the stage. You can even change the size of the slides by pulling the zoom slider and view your slides large enough to read their contents.
The great thing is that you can drag and drop these thumbnails to reorder your presentation. I'm often surprised by how much my presentations benefit from simple reordering of the slides.
There's a presentation principle called BLUF, or "bottom line up front." Basically, lead off with the most important point in your entire presentation. Your audience may not have the patience or attention span to follow multiple slides to a conclusion
When you switch to Slide Sorter View , it's a great time to apply the BLUF principle. Make sure that the bottom line (most important facts) are at the very beginning of the presentation. If you've buried the heart of the presentation deep in the slides, drag and drop the key slides closer to the front.
5. PowerPoint Notes Page View
Speaker notes are one of my favorite PowerPoint tools. Instead of writing your notes down on notecards, you can add them to each slide. You can add speaker notes from either Normal View , or more easily in Notes Page View .
Best of all, these notes won't be viewable to your audience when presenting. You can either print note pages, or they'll be visible in Presentation View (more on that in a moment.)
When you're working in PowerPoint Notes Page View , you'll see the notes you've added to a slide underneath it. You can also double click in the box and add notes on the fly. This preview is what you'll see when you print your notes pages.
If you'd like to find out more about the power of speaker notes, check out this 60 second tutorial on how to use them to your advantage:
6. When to Use Reading View
You've nailed the sequence, content, and speaker notes for your presentation. Now, it's time to review what your audience will see with PowerPoint Reading View .
Once you enter Reading View , your PowerPoint presentation will cover the entire window. You can use the arrow keys on your keyboard to switch slides. As you progress through the presentation, PowerPoint will play any transitions or animations that you've added to your slides.
Reading View should be your final step while preparing for your presentation in PowerPoint. I always go through each slide in my deck to make sure it appears exactly the way I expect.
To leave Reading View , press the Escape key on your keyboard. There's one more view worth checking out.
7. Presentation View in PowerPoint
Presentation View is what you'll use when sharing your PowerPoint slide deck with an audience. In practice, Presentation View is very similar to what you'll see in Reading View . Use Presentation View when you're ready to share.
One option worth checking out is Use Presenter View , which you can toggle on from the Slide Show tab. Presenter View is great for dual display options, such as when you're using an external monitor. Your screen will show a preview of the slide, as well as the speaker notes and next slide.
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Download our eBook: The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations . It's available for free with a subscription to the Tuts+ Business Newsletter.
Recap and Keep Learning
Think of the various PowerPoint views in this tutorial as different ways to view your presentation. Here's a possible workflow:
- Build your PowerPoint presentation in Normal View .
- Re-sequence the slides in Slide Sorter .
- Review content in Outline View .
- Preview the presentation in Reading View .
PowerPoint sometimes gets a bad rap as an ineffective tool, but when used correctly, it's great for building visual aids for your presentation. If you want to learn more about PowerPoint, check out the resources below:
- Envato Elements has over 350 templates for PowerPoint available for a flat rate with unlimited download.
- The PowerPoint in 60 Seconds series has a great selection of easy-to-learn skills for PowerPoint.
- If you want to learn more about how to build great-looking slides, check out How to Get Started With Using SmartArt .
More PowerPoint Templates
As you experiment with PowerPoint views, you may be looking for other PowerPoint templates to work with. Here are some curated lists of templates:
The Top Source for PowerPoint Templates (With Unlimited Use)
Envato Elements is a top source for premium PowerPoint templates . It has more than just PowerPoint templates. It has many digital assets. They include images, audio, font, and more.
A subscription is a good value if you make PowerPoint presentations often. To become a subscriber, you need to pay a low monthly fee and have unlimited access to any digital asset you want.
Using a premium template saves you time because it's already mostly made. All you need to do is add your information and images. But if you’re a creative person and are worried that with a premium template, you won’t get to be creative, then don’t be. A good template is fully customizable. You can change the colors, font, or anything else you need.
Use a Premium PowerPoint Template in Your Next Project Today!
Now that you know more about the different views in PowerPoint. Knowing how to use the different views can help you fully use PowerPoint. If you use PowerPoint, try signing up for Envato Elements.
Editorial Note : This tutorial was originally published in March of 2017. It's been updated for accuracy with help from Sarah Joy.
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Different Ways to View PowerPoint Slides in PowerPoint
Microsoft PowerPoint offers various ways to view your slides as you build your presentations. Understanding the viewing options available can help you work more efficiently and effectively. This article explores six key methods for viewing slides in PowerPoint.
Normal View
In normal view, you can:
Slide Sorter View
To access slide sorter view, select the “Slide Sorter” button at the bottom-right of the PowerPoint window.
Reading View
Reading view eliminates on-screen toolbars and panes to focus exclusively on the slide content. It fills the screen with the current slide for uninterrupted viewing.
The streamlined full-screen layout reduces clutter so your audience can concentrate solely on the slides without distracting elements.
Notes Page View
Notes page view assists with:
Slide Show View
To begin the slide show, select the “From Beginning” button on the “Slide Show” tab and choose to present on your current screen or external display.
Presenter View
Presenter view offers an expanded interface specially designed to support public speaking. While audiences see slides full screen, the presenter view displays the current slide, next slide preview, timer, and notes on a separate monitor.
Use presenter view when you need more robust tools for smoothly delivering presentations to audiences.
Key Takeaways
About the author, vegaslide staff, related posts, how to use a laser pointer in powerpoint 2013, powerpoint 2016: buying office 2016, powerpoint 2016: managing slides, the file is corrupt and cannot be opened in word, excel, powerpoint.
How to put PowerPoint in Presentation Mode
Presentation Mode in PowerPoint enhances your delivery by displaying slides in full-screen view seamlessly.
How to Put PowerPoint in Presentation Mode: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: open your powerpoint presentation.
Step 2: Click on the “Slide Show” Tab
Step 3: Choose How to Start the Presentation
- From Beginning : Click this to start the slideshow from the first slide.
- From Current Slide : Use this option if you want to start from a specific slide.
- Custom Slide Show : This option allows you to start a pre-set custom show if you have one set up.
Step 4: Use Shortcut Keys (Optional)
- F5 : Press F5 to start the slideshow from the beginning.
- Shift + F5 : Use this shortcut to start from the current slide you are on.
Step 5: Navigate Through Your Slides
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How to View Layers in Powerpoint: A Step-by-Step Guide
To view layers in PowerPoint, simply go to the “Home” tab, click on “Select” in the “Editing” group, and then “Selection Pane.” The Selection Pane will display all the layers on the current slide.
After you complete the action, you will be able to see all the layers on your active slide and manage their visibility and order.
Introduction
PowerPoint is a versatile tool used by students, business professionals, and creative minds to craft presentations that can inform, persuade, or entertain an audience. But did you know that PowerPoint slides are made up of layers, similar to layers in graphic design software? Understanding how to view and manage these layers can greatly enhance your presentation’s visual impact and professionalism.
Whether you’re a teacher assembling a lecture, a start-up pitching to investors, or a student presenting a project, having a firm grasp on PowerPoint’s layers function will allow you to control text, images, shapes, and other elements on your slides with precision. Knowing how to view layers in PowerPoint is particularly crucial when dealing with complex slides that require detailed editing and arrangement. So, let’s dive into the nuts and bolts of viewing layers in PowerPoint and why it’s a skill worth mastering.
Step by Step Tutorial: How to View Layers in PowerPoint
The following steps will guide you through the process of viewing layers in a PowerPoint slide.
Step 1: Open Your PowerPoint Presentation
Open the PowerPoint presentation you want to work on.
After opening your presentation, make sure you are on the slide where you want to view the layers. You can navigate through different slides by clicking on them in the left-hand pane.
Step 2: Go to the Home Tab
Click on the “Home” tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
The “Home” tab contains several groups of commands that help in formatting and editing your slides. For our purpose, we will focus on the “Editing” group.
Step 3: Click on “Select” in the Editing Group
In the “Editing” group, click on “Select.”
The “Select” button provides various options for selecting elements on your slide. This is where the “Selection Pane” option is located.
Step 4: Click on “Selection Pane”
From the dropdown menu that appears, click on “Selection Pane.”
The “Selection Pane” is a powerful tool that displays a list of all objects on the current slide. Each object represents a layer that you can manage.
Step 5: Manage Your Layers
The “Selection Pane” will show on the right side of the screen, listing all layers on the active slide.
In the “Selection Pane,” you can hide or show layers by clicking on the eye icon next to each layer. You can also reorder layers by dragging them up or down in the list. This is useful for changing which elements appear on top or below others.
Benefit | Explanation |
---|---|
Enhanced Control | Having the ability to view layers gives you control over the precise arrangement of elements on your slide. |
Efficient Editing | Viewing layers in PowerPoint makes it easier to select and edit specific elements without disturbing others. |
Professional Results | Properly managing layers can lead to more polished and professional-looking presentations. |
Drawback | Explanation |
---|---|
Learning Curve | For beginners, understanding and utilizing layers in PowerPoint might be a bit overwhelming. |
Time Consumption | Initially, managing layers can be time-consuming as you adjust to the workflow. |
Overcomplication | Adding too many layers can overcomplicate a slide and make it harder to manage. |
Additional Information
When working with layers in PowerPoint, keep in mind that the order in which you add elements to a slide matters. The first element you add is placed at the bottom layer, with subsequent elements stacking on top. However, this order can be rearranged in the “Selection Pane.”
Another tip is to name your layers. By default, PowerPoint assigns generic names to layers, like “Rectangle 3” or “Text Box 4.” Renaming layers to something more descriptive makes it easier to identify and select the correct ones, especially when you have many layers on a single slide.
Also, remember that grouped elements will appear as one single layer in the “Selection Pane.” If you need to edit an individual element within a group, you’ll first have to ungroup them, make your changes, and then regroup if necessary.
Lastly, don’t forget the power of keyboard shortcuts. While using the “Selection Pane,” you can quickly hide or show all layers by holding the “Shift” key and clicking on the eye icon of any layer. This is a nifty trick that can save you time during your editing process.
- Open your PowerPoint presentation.
- Click on the “Home” tab.
- Click on “Select” in the “Editing” group.
- Click on “Selection Pane.”
- Manage your layers in the “Selection Pane.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Can i lock layers in powerpoint.
No, PowerPoint does not currently have a feature to lock layers, but you can group elements to prevent them from being edited individually.
How do I rename a layer in PowerPoint?
To rename a layer, simply click on its name in the “Selection Pane” and type the new name.
Can I view layers on all slides at once?
No, the “Selection Pane” only shows layers for the active slide. You must navigate to each slide to view its layers individually.
Is there a limitation to the number of layers I can have on a slide?
There’s no set limit to the number of layers; however, having too many layers can make your slide difficult to manage.
Can I apply animations to specific layers?
Yes, you can apply animations to individual layers by selecting the layer and then adding an animation from the “Animations” tab.
Viewing layers in PowerPoint is a fundamental skill for anyone who aims to create dynamic and visually appealing presentations. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a PowerPoint newbie, understanding how to manage layers can elevate the quality of your slides to new heights.
Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you work with layers, the more intuitive the process will become. So next time you fire up PowerPoint to craft a presentation, take a moment to explore the “Selection Pane” and the possibilities it unlocks. Your audience will thank you for it!
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.
Read his full bio here.
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How to Edit Images in PowerPoint Presentation Easily
Images play a huge role in making your PowerPoint presentations lively. A proper image can lift your business pitch or school project from zero to a hero. What do you do when the image you want is not exactly what you’re looking for? Maybe it is too big, needs some filtration process, or does not go with the theme of the slide at all.
Luckily, PowerPoint provides an arsenal of tools that help you easily edit images. In this blog, we’ll have a closer look at how anyone, even with no background in design, can edit the pictures within your PowerPoint presentation.
1. Adding Images to PowerPoint
Let us first upload an image to your slide. You can insert an image from Insert > Pictures, and it will then open a window to upload from your computer or insert from other online sources before doing the editing.
Once you insert your image in PowerPoint, you get many tools to tweak and morph it to fit your needs. You can make the image brighter, add effects, and even crop an image from within the application!
2. Image Cropping
One of the most obvious and very useful image editing capabilities of PowerPoint is cropping. If your image does not quite fit your slide design, cropping can be the solution.
Steps to Crop an Image
- Select an image.
- Select the “Picture Format” pane and click “Crop.”
- Crop off the edges of the picture using cropping handles as you like.
You can even crop to a shape! If you need your image to be in shape based on a circle or triangle, then you can use the “Crop to Shape” that appears under the cropping tool.
3. Change Brightness and Contrast
Sometimes the image may be too dark or too bright, depending on your slide’s background or theme. Brightness and contrast adjustment can help balance your image.
To Do This:
- Select your picture and go to “Picture Format”.
- Click on “Corrections”
- You can see sliders for brightness and contrast.
- Drag them around until the picture is just the way it should be.
You’d be amazed by how much of a difference these small things make.
4. Filters and Effects
Want your picture to have a little more personality? Try adding filters or effects to your picture. Take your image and make it black and white, apply a soft focus, or even add shadows and reflections to give the picture that modern effect.
How To Do This:
- Select a photo and go to the “Picture Format” tab to find the features for “Artistic Effects”
- Here, you may bring in some diversified effects such as blurring an image, strokes that are quite close to paints, and give your photo an outline that is quite sketchy, the trace of the pencil, and much more.
These effects will make sure your pictures blend perfectly into the theme of your presentation. Do not hesitate to experiment with a few different looks until you end up with one that fits your style.
5. Scaling and Moving Images
Ensure your image is not too large for your slide, and also not too small. You can zoom in or out quite easily by clicking on the corners and dragging it to the size you want. Just be careful with this, always using the corners to make it the size you want so you do not stretch your image.
Put Them Properly:
- Right-click the image and then click the menu “Size and Position” to perfectly place the image with the slide content.
6. Delete Background
Now, you’d think that PowerPoint is just any ordinary application, but wait until you see its neat feature of automatically removing the background from pictures. One great use of this is if you are dealing with a product shot or portrait and want to separate the main object.
This is How It is Done:
- Select the picture then under the “Picture Format” tab click on the “Remove Background”
- PowerPoint will automatically draw rectangles around what it thinks should be removed. You can then mark what to keep and what to remove.
Do watch our blog “ How to Take the Background Out of a Picture on PowerPoint ” to learn this step-by-step.
Bonus Tips and Tricks for Better Presentations
If you think this whole process is too much of a headache to handle, don’t worry! You can make things relatively easy by using premade professional presentation templates or free PPT templates online. Most of them come with built-in image placeholders and professional design elements that will save you a lot of time and effort in your presentation.
Still, to make your presentation even better, you can go through our blog post on How to Apply Impactful Image Effects to Your PowerPoint Presentation to get more tips and tricks. More so, if you are using Google Slides, check out our guide on How to Edit the Images in Google Slides Presentation and find out more about editing images.
Editing images in PowerPoint is very simple! Whether you are cropping, applying filters, or enhancing brightness, PowerPoint has everything you need to make those slides look professional!
But do not forget that, if you have to spend a little less time or make your presentation look just a little more perfect, you can use premade templates. The layouts are gorgeous and even have placeholders for images that make image editing much easier.
Mastering simple editing techniques on images lets you take your PowerPoint presentations to a level where they really rock and impress!
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Arockia Mary Amutha is a seasoned senior content writer at SlideEgg, bringing over four years of dedicated experience to the field. Her expertise in presentation tools like PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Canva shines through in her clear, concise, and professional writing style. With a passion for crafting engaging and insightful content, she specializes in creating detailed how-to guides, tutorials, and tips on presentation design that resonate with and empower readers.
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- What is PowerPoint? Video
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Choose the right view for the task
Select the PowerPoint View tab to choose the view that's best for what you're doing. There are also icons in the task at the bottom of the screen to select a new view.
The default Normal setting is the best for creating and editing your slides.
Select Outline View to see all your slides listed in a column. Select Slide Sorter to see thumbnails of all your slides. You can reorganize your slides in either view by selecting and dragging it to a new location.
To View your speaker notes, select Notes Page . You'll see one slide at time.
Note: Make universal style changes to every slide, notes page, or handout using the Slide , Handout , or Notes Master views on the ribbon.
Open Slide Master view
What is a slide master?
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Select the Use Presenter View checkbox. Select which monitor to display Presenter View on. Select From Beginning or press F5. In Presenter View, you can: See your current slide, next slide, and speaker notes. Select the arrows next to the slide number to go between slides. Select the pause button or reset button to pause or reset the slide ...
Start presenting. On the Slide Show tab, in the Start Slide Show group, select From Beginning. Now, if you are working with PowerPoint on a single monitor and you want to display Presenter view, in Slide Show view, on the control bar at the bottom left, select , and then Show Presenter View.
Slide Sorter view. You can get to Slide Sorter view from the task bar at the bottom of the slide window, or from the View tab on the ribbon. Slide Sorter view (below) displays all the slides in your presentation in horizontally sequenced, thumbnails. Slide show view is helpful if you need to reorganize your slides—you can just click and drag ...
To access the different view modes in PowerPoint, you have to click on the 'View' tab in the ribbon. The 2-step process is described below. Step-1: Click on the 'View' tab. At first, select the 'View' tab, which is the second to last tab in the ribbon section of your PowerPoint Window. Step-2: Select your preferred 'View Mode'.
In Presenter View, you'll have your own private screen with tools like a next slide preview, timekeeper, and drawing tools.. This is a view that you'll see on your own screen while giving a presentation using PowerPoint. While the audience will see the presentation on the projector or big screen, you'll have your own private view on a second monitor.
Before you can access the presenter view of Microsoft PowerPoint, you need to follow these steps: Open Microsoft PowerPoint and select an existing presentation. Once the existing presentation opens, go to the Slide show Tab and navigate to the "Monitors" section. Check the box beside the "Use Presenter View." Select from the "Start Slide Show ...
Step 2: Configuring Display Settings. Additional steps if you are using dual monitors: Connect your second monitor. In PowerPoint, go to the "Slide Show" tab and click "Set Up Slide Show.". Under "Multiple monitors," select your primary display as "Automatic" or select the monitor you want to use for Presenter View. Click "OK.".
A simple method for switching to Presenter View on a single monitor is to click the three dots (More slideshow options) at the bottom in SlideShow mode and select Show Presenter View. You can also switch to Presenter View on a single monitor anytime using the ALT+F5 hotkey. The presenter can easily manage a PPT in presentation mode, with the ...
Step-by-Step Guide to Activate Presenter View: Open Your Presentation: Start by opening your PowerPoint presentation. This will be the one you intend to deliver. Navigate to the Slide Show Tab: At the top, you'll notice several tabs. Click on the one labeled 'Slide Show'. Check the 'Use Presenter View' Option:
To open Presenter view in PowerPoint, click the Slide Show tab and select the Use Presenter View check box. 2. Start your slide show. 3. Click the Notes pane in the lower right corner of the PowerPoint window, then start typing. NOTE: You can also press the F6 key to select the Notes pane in Presenter view. When a white outline appears around ...
Click the Options button. Select Show Presenter View. The Presenter view fills the screen. The same presentation tools are available below the slide, and it also shows the current time and a thumbnail of the upcoming slide. At the bottom of the screen, use the arrows to move forward or backward in the presentation.
To see the full course that this video came from, go here: ️https://www.simonsezit.com/courses/microsoft/powerpoint-2021-online-course/In this Microsoft Pow...
Share and collaborate. Start with Microsoft Copilot. Generate a presentation outline instantly with Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365. Expand your ideas. Ask for more information or a new slide on your topic directly through Copilot in PowerPoint. Use a free template. Choose from thousands of customizable templates to kickstart your slideshow.
3. When you start Microsoft PowerPoint, you should see the same image on both screens. 4. Now press the Windows + P key combination and then select Extend. Click on the check mark to the right of Presenter View in the Slide Show tab. 5. You'll now see the different views on your two monitors.
In this screencast, you'll learn how to present a PowerPoint slideshow with Presenter View. Download unlimited PPT templates with Envato Elements: https://...
Look for Slide Show tab. When found, click it and select From Beginning visible under Start Slide Show group. If you are working with PowerPoint on a single monitor and still want to display ...
Hover your cursor over the bottom left area of the slide to find seven watermarked navigation icons that you can see in Figure 2. Click the last icon and from the resultant menu, choose the Show Presenter View option (see Figure 2 again). Figure 2: Show Presenter View option to be selected. This brings up PowerPoint 365's Presenter View, as ...
To change views, find the View button on PowerPoint's ribbon and click on it. Then, find the section on the left labeled Presentation Views. This tutorial will walk you through each of these views and how you can use them. Click on the Views tab on the PowerPoint ribbon to find the option to change presentation views.
Six steps for creating a slide show. 1. Plan your slide show. Before getting too deep into your slide show project, it's a good idea to select and save the photos and videos you want to use. This helps you create a slide show more efficiently and purposefully, ensuring a better outcome. 4.
PowerPoint is all about helping you give great presentations; and the Presenter view is all about helping you use PowerPoint. Traditionally, the audience faces a screen showing your PowerPoint slides, and you stand in between the audience and screen, and change slides on a computer.
It fills the screen with the current slide for uninterrupted viewing. To enter reading view, select the "Reading View" button in the bottom-right corner or press Alt + W + F. Key uses for reading view include: Reviewing slides without visual distractions. Practicing a presentation to check timings.
Presentation Mode in PowerPoint allows you to showcase your slides in a full-screen format, making your presentation look professional and engaging. Entering Presentation Mode lets you deliver your content smoothly, using various tools like annotations and slide navigation to enhance your delivery.
To view layers in PowerPoint, simply go to the "Home" tab, click on "Select" in the "Editing" group, and then "Selection Pane.". The Selection Pane will display all the layers on the current slide. After you complete the action, you will be able to see all the layers on your active slide and manage their visibility and order.
Select the Use Presenter View checkbox. Select which monitor to display Presenter View on. Select From Beginning or press F5. In Presenter View, you can: See your current slide, next slide, and speaker notes. Select the arrows next to the slide number to go between slides. Select the pause button or reset button to pause or reset the slide ...
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Try it! Select the PowerPoint View tab to choose the view that's best for what you're doing. There are also icons in the task at the bottom of the screen to select a new view. The default Normal setting is the best for creating and editing your slides. Select Outline View to see all your slides listed in a column.